Improvement in fire-escapes



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

LORENZ WAHLE, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

l M PROVEM ENT IN Fl RE-ESCA-PES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 105,280, dated July 12,1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORENZ WAHLE, of Davenport, in the county of Scottand State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape; and Ido hereby declare that the followin g is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying' drawing,forming part of this specification.

Figure l represents a rear elevation of my improved fire-escape. Fig. 2is a side elevation, partly in section, of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

This invention relates to a new fire-escape of that class in whichlazy-tongs for elevating and lowering a flexible ladder are employed.

The invention consists in the novel construction of screw-power foroperating the said jointed frame; also, in the application of a devicefor adjusting the jointed frame and ladder in any desired inclination;and, finally, in the. apparatus for stretching the chain ladder, all ashereinafter more fully described.

A in the drawing represents the main frame of the escape. The same issupported by four wheels, B B, which are hung on their axles in theordinary manner. The lire-escape is thus supported ou a wagon in theusual manner.

O represents a frame of suitable form and size, pivoted at its lowerend, by pins a a, to the frame A near to the rear part of the same. Inthe lower part of the frame O are the bearings of a longitudinal shaft,l), which carries two bevel-gear wheels, b b', as shown. These wheelsmesh respectively into the teeth of pinions c c, that are mounted uponthe lower ends of inclined shafts E Ef, as shown. The shafts E E havetheir bearings also in the frame O, and are hung invinclined positions,extending from the middle of the frame O upward and outwardly, as shownin Fig. 1. A crank, d, is mounted upon the shaft D, so that the same isthereby revolved. When the shaft Dis turned it will rotate the shafts EE in opposite directions. Screw-threads are cut into the shafts E E', asindicated in the drawing, the said threads being arranged in oppositedirections.

F is a jointed frame, composed of two intersecting rows of parallellevers, pivoted together at their extremitiesl and centers, such a framebeing generally known under the name of lazy-tongs. The frame F is, atits lowest joint, pivoted by a strong` bolt, e, to the frame C. Thelower ends of the lower levers, ff', of the lazy-tongs are bifurcatedand slotted. Between their forked ends are fitted two nuts, G G,respectively. From the ends of each nut project pins g through the slotsof said levers, as shown. The nuts G G work, respectively, on thescrew-shafts E E. As the latter are turned they will cause the nuts towork up and down on them, and to thereby carry the levers of thelazy-tongs into a more horizontal or perpendicular position. The slotsin the levers ff are for the purpose of making up for the varyingdistances of the nuts from the bolt e during the adjustment of saidnuts. It is thus evident that the frame F will be extended or contractedby revolving the shaft D. y

A flexible ladder, L, is secured to ahook, h, at the upper end of theframe F. The lower end of the ladder can, at any suitable height of theframe F, be secured to arms it, that project from a horizontal drum, H,hung transversely in the frame O. By turning the said drum the laddercan be stretched, and is then held stretched by means of a pawl, j,catching into a ratchet-wheel, K, that is mounted upon the said drum. Abox, I, is suspended from the frame C under the drum H, to receive theloose end of the ladder.

From the front end of the frame O projects forward a slotted bifurcatedarm, Z, which embraces and holds a nut, m, that is fitted around avertical screw-shaft, J. This shaft J is hung in the main frame A. Byrevolving it the nut m will be raised or lowered, swinging thereby theframe O on its pivot a. The inclination of the ladder and frame F canthus be regulated at will. j

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. The inclined screw-shafts E E', geared together withthe shaft D, and working the nuts G G' in the slotted forked ends of thelevers ff, substantially as herein shown and described, for the Ypurposeof extending or teeth or arms i, relatively arranged to the contractingthe jointed frame F, as set forth. jointed frame F and ladder L, for thepurpose 2. The frame C, pivoted at its under side to specified.

the frame A, and provided with the bifurcated arm l, connected with thenut m on the ver- LORENZ WAHLE' tical screw-shaft J,a11 arranged asshown and Witnesses: described. WILLIAM SoHNDELEN,

3. The drum H, provided with the radial WILLIAM S. NYTON. f

